votaries people devoted to a cause or religion.
Pharisees followers of an ancient Jewish sect, advocating strict observance of traditions and laws of the Hebrew faith. Jesus condemned them as hypocrites. Here, Douglass is comparing Christian slaveholders to Pharisees.
gnats insects or flies, especially those that are bloodsucking.
Pilate and Herod the Roman governor and ruler of Galilee, respectively, who condemned Christ to the Cross.
motes specks of dust.
Jack and Nell . . . Tony, Doll, and Sam names representative of slaves.
